COMPASS, Zepf Center agencies to merge

COMPASS, a recovery agency for substance abuse, is merging with Zepf Center, a mental health agency, in a move that will streamline and expand services for patients with mental health and substance abuse issues, said COMPASS Board President Bill Takacs.

Bill Takacs

“Those individuals who have been receiving services will continue to receive them,” Takacs said. “What this merger will enable us to do is offer an effective and more efficient way of providing services in both arenas.

“There are a lot of people with substance abuse issues who also have mental health issues and, similarly, there are a lot of people with mental health issues who [have] substance abuse issues.”

Takacs said the agencies, which will retain their respective names and locations, will be able to treat those with both mental health and substance abuse issues “quicker, better and cheaper.”

There will be no disruption in services and no services will be dropped as a result of the merger, Takacs said. Services for children and adolescents will be added.

“If anything, we anticipate an expansion of services,” Takacs said. “There’s not a lot of services to children and adolescents in our community and we are very hopeful this merger will facilitate an expansion of services to children and adolescents.”

It’s being touted as a merger, but in essence Zepf will be acquiring COMPASS, because Zepf is the larger of the two agencies with a bigger budget, Takacs said. A COMPASS board member will now serve on Zepf’s board.

“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for both organizations to expand what we already do so well individually and do it in a cost-effective manner,” Takacs said.

“We are excited to join forces with COMPASS and expand care and treatment to those who need it in Northwest Ohio, particularly here in Lucas County,” Jennifer Moses, CEO of Zepf, said in a statement. “Our timing is optimized by the planned expansion of Medicaid services here in Ohio through Gov. [John] Kasich, which will help us reach even more of those in need.

“I used to work for COMPASS and am very familiar with its services and clientele,” Moses continued. “We have been in periodic talks with COMPASS about combining forces and our timing benefits everyone.”

Zepf Center opened in 1974 and is named after Elizabeth A. Zepf, a Toledo resident who was active in mental health organizations. Zepf Center works to treat the whole person through psychiatric care, care coordination, residential support, case management, therapy and career development services. Zepf Center has six locations in Lucas County as well as two apartment buildings and two group homes and serves more than 5,000 individuals a year.

Since 1971, COMPASS has been providing services to Northwest Ohio residents and offers short-term residential treatment, outpatient treatment services, court-ordered drug treatment, medically assisted detoxification services, DWI programs and a new gambling treatment program. COMPASS will continue to operate out of its Collingwood Boulevard location in Toledo’s Old West End. Its SASI (Substance Abuse Services Inc.) division, which provides medically assisted treatment to those with drug addictions, will keep operating at its 12th Street facility.

Toledo Express Airport reports 26% increase in May passenger traffic

Toledo Express Airport (TOL) experienced a 26.47 percent increase in passenger traffic in May 2013 compared to May 2012, according to figures released June 27 by the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority.

A total of 15,280 passengers traveled through TOL in May for the third consecutive month of increased traffic. More than half of that total, 8,051, traveled on Allegiant, which experienced a 66-percent increase in May.

“More and more travelers are seeing the benefits of flying from Toledo Express,” said Paul Toth, president and CEO for the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. “Community support from the region is crucial for the continued success of the airport.”

The rise in traffic can be partly attributed to increased capacity at the airport and flight options to popular vacation destinations. Competitive prices, hub connectivity and an improving economy have also contributed to this increase, according to the Port Authority.

Airport revenues in May were $1,532,700, which was more than the budgeted amount by $189,000 due primarily to the increased traffic. Airport expenses of $1,777,500 were less than the budget by $80,000 due mainly to lower maintenance and operations expenses reported by the Port Authority.

TOL provides a crowd-free and easy alternative to larger, less convenient hub-airports, according to Toth.

More flight options paired with an easy-to-use airport and rewards for traveling through the airport are giving travelers more reasons to check TOL first when booking air travel in Northwest Ohio, he said.

Parking is available within 50 feet of the terminal and daily parking rates at TOL are $8 per day compared with more than $20 a day at other airports.

In January, the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority also announced that the Toledo Express Airport has partnered with Republic Parking, TEA Services and the Thanks Again® Network to offer TOL customers valuable rewards when they park, shop or dine at TOL.

At its June 27 meeting, the board of directors approved authorizing a contract with Lake Erie Electric for an amount not to exceed $197,486 for an exterior lighting retrofit project at TOL. The project includes retrofitting most of the existing lighting fixtures and replacement of others for the exterior parking lot, canopy and soffit lighting at TOL.

Lake Erie Electric is based in Cleveland and operates offices in Bowling Green (listed as Toledo office), Defiance, Sandusky and other cities in Ohio and Michigan.

The board also approved authorizing a grant agreement with Zepf Center of Toledo in the amount of $35,000 for predevelopment costs associated with renovation of an existing structure. The building will

be used to provide behavioral and physical health care services to underserved children with mental health challenges, according to the Port Authority.

It is projected that the renovated building will allow Zepf Center to expand its workforce by creating 25 new permanent jobs and providing seven neighborhood workers temporary construction jobs for clean-up and demolition.

The board also approved recommendations to expand the scope of the Green Community Program to include public and private projects through the program established in December 2011. The program can maximize current and potential future flexibility in the financing of energy efficiencies and alternatives for those projects.

Zepf Center serves up tennis event on March 22

A Toledo mental health clinic is set to host a fundraising event that mixes tennis with philanthropy.

The Zepf Center will have its sixth annual “Serve up an Ace” charity event 7-11 p.m. March 22 at Laurel Hill Swim and Tennis Club, 2222 Cass Road. Admission is $30 per person and $50 per couple.

The nonprofit provides behavioral health and vocational services to youth and adults with severe and persistent mental illness. This includes therapy services, career development and résumé building. The Zepf Center features a medical department as well.

The evening’s festivities include tennis competitions and skill sessions, as well as hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, astrology readings by Janet Amid, raffles and door prizes.

According to Zepf Center’s Chief Operations Officer Brittany Barhite, the original idea for the event came from Mark Faber, tennis pro at Laurel Hill, and Zepf’s Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Moses.

“They just started talking and came up with the event, and since then it’s grown,” Barhite said.

Barhite added that while the theme of “Serve up an Ace” is tennis, one does not have to be a tennis enthusiast to enjoy the night.

“Some people don’t like to play tennis, but there will be lots of stuff to do if [they] don’t,” she said.

Raffle prizes include $2,500 cash, a 64GB iPad Mini and a 16MP Nikon digital camera. Attendees also have a chance to win door prizes, like a 32-inch flat-screen TV.

Another feature of the night is a silent auction, with items and services offered from various local businesses. Possible items up for bid include a stay at a Florida condominium, U.S. Open tickets, tennis packages with rackets and outfits, haircuts, salon services, puppy-care packages, movie tickets, glass art and beer baskets. Many local businesses sponsored the event.

“We had a lot of local places step up and donate, and a lot of local tennis pros are donating their time to teach the tennis that night,” Barhite said.

Tennis competitions will take place on all of the different courts at Laurel Hill, with pairs separated by skill level. Those new to tennis are invited to play.

“We’ll do everything from point play to fun games,” Barhite said. “After the groups play for an hour, we’ll have competitions like fastest serve, with prizes for best male and female. Then, at 9:30 [p.m.], the courts will be free for open play the rest of the night.”

Health Home provider

Last year, the event raised $30,000. In 2010, “Serve up an Ace” was named the United States Tennis Association’s (USTA) Midwest Charity Event of the Year. Part of the proceeds from this year’s event will go toward building a fitness center, which is part of a new initiative at the Zepf Center.

“As of Oct. 1, we are one of the clinics selected to become a Health Home provider,” Barhite said. “We are looking at a holistic approach to taking care of our clients.”

The Health Home system is part of the Affordable Care Act of 2010. It is designed for people with Medicaid who have chronic conditions, and encourages treatment centers to operate under a “whole-person” philosophy.

“Along with our therapy services we also want to help them with other physical [needs], because if you don’t feel good physically, you’re not going to feel good mentally,” Barhite said. “In addition to therapy, we ask them, ‘When was your last checkup? When was your last dental visit?’ We also want to offer more yoga classes.”

Barhite explained that because many of Zepf’s clients do not have a lot of disposable income, they are probably not going to be buying gym memberships.

She added that some may not feel safe walking around in their neighborhoods, which also prohibits physical activity.

“There are a lot of studies that show that just 30 minutes of physical activity can improve your mood,” Barhite said. “Also, a lot of people with persistent mental illnesses die on an average of 25 to 30 years sooner than other individuals. That is usually because of cardiac issues like heart disease, being overweight and diabetes. If we provide some wellness education, we can help them. Also, a lot of them are underserved, and so they might not have learned the proper way to eat or have access to nutritious food.”

Barhite encouraged those who are interested in attending the tennis event to order tickets in advance, though she noted that some walk-ins will be accepted that night.

This entry was posted
on Thursday, March 14th, 2013 at 3:36 pm and is filed under Charity.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Community Ombudsman

Community Ombudsman: Zepf Center needs donations for its holiday store

Josie Allen cannot afford to buy much for her family at Christmas. Everyone is limited to one gift each.

But last year her family was selected to participate in the Zepf Center’s Adopt-a-Family program, so her children received multiple gifts.

They opened sweat suits, games and even received a PlayStation 2.

“I would not have been able to provide that,” Allen said.

These gifts were possible because two of her teenage daughters (one is a relative whom she considers a daughter) receive services at the Zepf Center, which provides behavioral health and vocational help to youth and adults with mental illness.

The nonprofit also hosts a holiday store as part of its December outreach. Donations are still needed for the store, as well as a volunteer to play Santa on Dec. 19.

I learned more about the Zepf when my sister began to work there. Last year, I helped adopt one of the 40 families. This year, I am having my BGSU students collect hygiene products like toilet paper, toothbrushes and shampoo for the holiday store.

Families who are selected to participate can shop for new and used clothes and toys, as well as the hygiene products I am gathering. Video games, DVDs, crafts and Hello Kitty merchandise are some of the most-requested items. Everything is free.

Zepf employee Kim Middleton said for some clients and their families this is the only resource for celebrating the holidays.

“Last year, with the help of Toys for Tots, we were able to provide over 200 children with two new toys for each client and their siblings in the household,” Middleton said in an email.

Zepf was able to provide families with new and gently used household items, as well as cleaning supplies.

Things that most people consider everyday necessities are luxuries to some Zepf families, Middleton said.

“One mother was overjoyed because we were able to give each family a new laundry basket filled with laundry detergent, food and paper products. She was so excited over a four-pack of toilet tissue, I thought she was going to cry,” Middleton said.

To donate, drop off items at the Zepf Center, 6605 W. Central Ave., or at its 905 Nebraska Ave. location. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Barhite: Sylvania boys benefit from Zepf tennis program

Trish Shaffer never worries about receiving a call to pick up her boys when they are participating in a Zepf Center program.

She knows if her adoptive sons – both suffering from fetal alcohol syndrome – have a meltdown or get over-stimulated the behavioral health staff knows what to do.

She also likes that both boys, Zach and Nick, get to try activities they might never get to experience.

One of those is playing tennis. Zach, 10, suffers from depth perception problems so any sport that incorporates small balls is not good for him.

But because the Zepf Center takes that into consideration, he, too, can enjoy a sport like tennis.

The Zepf Center just finished its second week of the Ten and Under Tennis Program – Serving Up Wellness and Recovery at Jermain Park.

The program is possible because of grants from the Midwest Youth Tennis & Education Foundation, the Northwest Ohio Tennis Association and the USTA/Midwest.

Zepf Center CEO Jennifer Moses said tennis is an expensive sport that many children don’t get to experience because of equipment and training costs. One of the reasons the USTA is supporting the Ten and Under Tennis Program is because it wants to diversify the sport, she said.

The program is open to kids 7-10 years old from middle-lower income families who are suffering from a behavioral health problem. Both Zach and Nick are on Medicaid as a secondary insurance, which is why they get to enjoy the benefits of the Zepf Center.

“There is a bundle of resources at Zepf and we can’t be more grateful,” Shaffer said.

In addition to learning a new sport, the tennis program is designed to teach social skills that come with learning and competing in tennis. It is coupled with wellness education, led by Zepf staff, to help combat the growing epidemic of childhood obesity, Moses said.

“There is a push in Ohio and the nation to take care of the whole person,” she said.

Shaffer and her husband never expected to need such services. The couple had two older children when they decided to adopt because of her Type 1 diabetes. Zach arrived first, but they weren’t sure the adoption would go through. When they were offered a chance to adopt Nick, they gladly took him. The day they brought him home from the hospital, Zach’s mom decided to talk adoption.

The first few years were easy. Then the boys began to display sensory and attention issues. They were eventually diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome.

The boys learn in a traditional classroom in Sylvania Schools, but meet regularly with doctors at the Zepf Center. They also participate in many of the programs offered through the nonprofit. The tennis program has been one of their favorites.

“They were very, very excited. It is nice for them to experience something different,” Shaffer said. “They came home and said, ‘We can bring our own tennis rackets, but we don’t have to.’”